Artists' Ensemble Theater
 "Arty-Joke" All-Star Evening of Music and Laughter

When a group of artists band together to put on a show with music and plenty of laughs, it's, well, kind of an arty joke.  Arty-Joke, Artists' Ensemble Theater's annual benefit takes place at Maddox Theatre at Rockford College.

The tremendous line up of performers, all donating their time and talent includes Jodi Beach, Patte-Armato-Lund, Tim Anderson, Steve Vrtol, David Gingerich, Timm Adams, Scott Chachula, Linda Abronski, Dennis Johnson, Carolyn Cadigan, Rachel Handlin, Jim McDowell, Erin Koroll, Gary Wingert, Richard and Margaret Raether, Katie Maringer, John Chase and more.

In addition, Artists' Ensemble will announce their 2012-2013 season.  "We have BIG suprises in store for the 12-13 season," promises AE Artistic Director Richard Raether. "During the evening, as each play is announced, the audience will see a short scene from each show performed by Ensemble members."

This year's Arty-Joke theme is Better Together: Artists' Ensemble & You and the show hightlights the community outreach of Artists' Ensemble.  Friends of AE such as One Less Tenor, the Vocal Collective of Rockford College, and string players from the Music Academy will also perform.

"Arty-Joke"
Saturday, February 4
8 p.m.
Rockford College Maddox Theater

Tickets are $30 and all proceeds benefit Artists' Ensemble Theater.  Call 815-904-2277 or visit artistsensemble.org

Rockford Area Music Industry's Youth Charity Jam
Seeks Teen Bands

Local teen bands have until January 30 to apply to audition for the 2012 Rockford Area Music Industry's Youth Charity Jam.

At least two-thirds of the band members must be 19 years old or younger and attend high school in Winnebago, Boone,
Ogle or Stephenson counties.

The audition will be February 25 at the Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Road, Rockford. The top seven bands will advance to the Jam, which will be March 16 at the Tebala.

The first-place winner will receive $250, recording time from Darkhouse Productions and will be invited to perform at the 21st annual RAMI Awards Ceremony April 13 at the Tebala Shrine Temple.  The second place winner gets $200; third, $150.  The band that sells the most tickets to the Jam receives $100. 

For more information call 815-546-3021 or visit www.ramiawards.com

POETRY OUT LOUD

Rockford Area Arts Council announces a regional contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest.
On Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 4 p.m. twenty students from Auburn, Freeport, Guilford, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Spectrum High Schools will participate in the Northern Illinois Poetry Out Loud regional contest at the Rockford Baha'i Center, 1650 N. Alpine Road in Rockford, IL .  The first and second place winners of this competition advance to Illinois' State Poetry Out Loud Competition, being held Thursday, March 29, 2012 in Springfield.  The State champion advances to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on May 13-15, 2012 in Washington, DC, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

The competition, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with the Illinois Arts Council, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

Featured speakers and participants will be Christopher Sims, Master of Ceremonies with Dr. joan e. kole, George E. Davis, Dorothy Paige-Turner and Jessica MacDonald as judges for the event.  Attendance is free and open to the public.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.